The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1887-09-14
Relics of Bygone Ages-A Most
Beautiful Flower which is q
Curiosity with u History.

Relics of BygOne AgeS-A Most
Beautiful Flower which is a
Curiosity with u History.
Charleston Star. So
One of the most beautiful flowers
extant, and also a great curiosity,
with a history, grows on the farm
of James -H. Couch, in Mason coun-
ty, some fifteen miles above Point
Pleasant, on the Kanawha river.
In the Kanawha Valley, wher-
ever there are marks of an old
swamp, small dark seed, similar in
shape and size to hazel nut, have
been plowed up from time to time.
The seed are so very hard, and so
formed that they are impervious to
time. Last year these seed were
plowed up and thrown into swamp
on the farm of Mr.. Couch. AS un-
derstood, the seed were not thrown
in with the intention of investiga-
ton, but accidentally almost. The
hot weather this summer caused
the water of the pond to melt the
glutinous encasement of the seed,
and the innerpart terminate. 1t
grew up, and resembled a pond
lily in shape of leaf, but when it
blossomed, it was wonder. The
flower is some nine inches across,
shaped like the Egyptian locust,
and most delicate yellow. Its
perfume is also delicate.
1t is the most beautiful flower ever
seen in this country, and differs so
with other flowers that it is cur
iosity.
The seed from which they grew
have been lying in the ground since
the settlement of the valley, some
seventy-fve years. This is certain
for no flowers have ever been grown.
How much longer the seed have
lain dormant, is hard to state
Perhaps, and with good reason for
the belief, they have been safely
housedGin the earth since the time
of the mound builder, who seemed
to make this valley his home, judg-
ing from the relics he has left be-
hind him.
The flower has excited flower
lovers of this place, and number
of seeds are being distributed.
THAT FLOWER.
Editor Star.
Being fortunate enough few
days ago to see several blossoms
and a seed pod of the beautiful
flower, spoken of in Tuesdays Star,
which comes from a pond on the
farm of Mr.. James Couch of Mason
county, this State, | am glad to be
able, on consulting DIR. Gray's Bot
any and little book of Water
Lilies, to name the beautiful flower
that has attracted the notice and
admiration of both the residents
and visitors to our valley this sum
mer. 1t belongs to the nymphea
OF water lily family, having the ge-
mario name of nelumbium and the
specific name of luteum-it is there
fore nelumbium luteum, or yellew
nelumbium, often called in the West
the water chinquepin DIR. Gray
further says it is common in tile
South and West, but only spar
ingly found in the middle states.
and never farther North than Mas
sachusetts and Connecticut, except
ing in the conseryatories. He saws
it was probably introduced by the
Indians. The name nelumbium is
Ceylonese name. The seeds and
tubers are edible
There is another species called
nelumbium speciosum, which is the
lotus or sacred bean, of India, with
pink flowers, and said to be much
more abundant bloomer than lu-
tenum. Both varieties are offered
for sale by several eastern florists
and by them is also called the
American lotus.
"LoTUs FLOWER.